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Sample Article on Urban Lifestyle

Need an article that captures Québec City, but up against a tight deadline? We get it. That’s why we’ve provided a piece on the region’s lifestyle. You’re free to use it as-is, or take some ideas and run with them.

Shopping

A visit to Québec City is not complete without a little window shopping! Considering the number of boutiques and stores in the city, this enjoyable activity can be practised just about anywhere.

A charming cobblestone street called rue du Petit-Champlain, located at the foot of the cliff on which stands the Château Frontenac—one of the city's best-known landmarks, is the oldest commercial street in North America. Here you will find exclusive fashions by regional designers, jewellery, decorative objects, Native handicrafts and much, much more. You can take a walk through yesteryear by visiting the numerous antique dealers along rue Saint-Paul, a bustling street located a short distance away in the same neighbourhood. The historical Old Port district comprises many art galleries showcasing the works of Québec artists and Inuit sculptors, as well boutiques specializing in leather clothing and furs.

Your tour of the city is incomplete until you have taken a stroll outside the fortified walls surrounding Old Québec. Walk along rue Saint-Jean in the picturesque Saint-Jean district and browse through the shops offering a wide selection of gift ideas and fine foods.

Day or night, Grande Allée is always a hive of activity. The sunny sidewalk cafés, beautiful architecture and exciting nightlife draw local residents and tourists to this popular thoroughfare.

Running through the heart of the chic Montcalm district is rue Cartier, a must for shopping aficionados. In the Saint-Roch district, you will find rue Saint-Joseph, a street lined with trendy shops and restaurants. More fashionable boutiques and excellent restaurants are located along avenue Maguire in Sillery.

Tours

No matter the weather or time of year, it is always possible to do a walking tour of the city. Thanks to cutting-edge technology (geocaching, markers and transmitters) Centre d'interprétation de la vie urbaine de la ville de Québec / Maison Chevalier, exploring Upper and Lower Town, Old Québec and four hundred years of heritage has never been such fun.

Three podcast tours, a diversified offer that includes everything from historical sites to parks, provide an entertaining and informative perspective of the attractions visited can be downloaded for free.

You can walk through the Old City to admire the enormous frescoes painted on the walls of various buildings inside the fortifications or near Parliament Hill, but no official walking tour exists that focuses on this particular attraction. These works of art in trompe-l'œil style are giant paintings that illustrate the city's historical or cultural lore. Another dozen frescoes can be found scattered throughout the region, namely in Cap-Rouge, Beauport, Wendake, Côte-de-Beaupré and Lévis.

Festivals and Events

The unending succession of events and festivals throughout the year add to the appeal of the Greater Québec Area tourist offer.

The crowning summer event is the Festival d'été de Québec, which draws over one hundred thousand visitors annually. This major musical sensation transforms Old Québec into a mosaic of people and concerts. For eleven days, the streets are filled with the rhythm of world music and Francophone song, and the entire city becomes a gigantic open-air stage. Also on the program: many different musical styles, children's theatre and street performers who captivate the public with their dexterity, skill and daring.